Game-board.



No. 674,729. Patented May 2|, I901.

E. T. BURROWES. v

GAME BOARD.

lApplication filed Jan. 19, 1901A (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented May 2|, l90l. E. T. BURROWES.

GAME BOARD.

llll

No. 674,729. Patented May 2|, l90l.

E. T. sunnnwts.

GAME BOARD.

ica-tio (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @EEICE.

EDWARD T. BURROWES, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

GAME- BOARD.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,729, dated May 21,1901.-

Applioation filed January 19, 1901. Serial No. 43,865. (No model.)

. T (tZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. BURRowEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Game-Boards; and Ido hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in game-boards, and is embodiedin the construction and arrangement of parts presently to be described,and defined in the claims.

\Vhile the invention is designed as an improve m ent in agame-boardt-hat is,one which can be readily handled and moved from and onto asuitable table or support, and thereby be desirable for general andfamily use in places where large heavy structures could not beaccommodated, such as the conventional billiard and pool tables; yet itis to be understood that the invention may be applied to game tables asdistinguished from boards.

The object of the present invention is to provide a satisfactory andconvenient gameboard which will embody in its structure a satisfactory,durable, and inexpensive cushiona board which will be of light portableconstruction and which will maintain its shape and an evenplaying-surfaceand to provide the board with other features and im-'provements.

In Patent No. 659,809, issued to myself on the 16th day of October,1900, is shown a type of board having thin flexible cushion-strips, thebody of the board being preferably of wood. By experience it has beenfound that the particular construction of cushion-strip was notsatisfactory in some respects, and particularly in that the peculiarEnglish could not be given to the balls as they engage the cushion. Itwas further found that the body of the board would have a tendency towarp, and thereby become uneven on the playingsurface. WVhile the boardrepresented in said patent has been found eminently satisfactory, thepresent invention is designed to overcome the defects or objectionsabove stated and also to provide improvements. The invention maytherefore be stated, generally, as

l being an improvement in a game-board embodying in its structure a railcarrying a body and a cushion and means for preventing warping of thebody, and thereby the distortion of the cushion, and for generallymaintaining the proper relation between the playing-surface and thecushion, an even playingsurface, and also in the particular constructionof the body with a closure for a pocketopening adapted to suchconstruction.

In the accompanyingdrawingslhave shown a construction embodying theinvention; but it is to be understood that various modifications andchanges can be made without departing from the nature and principle ofthe invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a crosssection through the center ofthe board. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the braces.Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the rail and a portion of thebody, showing the manner of securing the cushion in place, a ball indotted lines, and the far rail omitted. Fig. 5 is a detail view of oneportion of the cushion-strip. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through thesame. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of one of the cover-clamps. Fig. 8is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of the body, showing abrace in position. Fig. 9 is a similar view of a modified form. Fig. 10is a plan view of one corner of the board, showing the rail or frameinsection. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a corner of the board. Fig. 12is a similar view, the metal end removed and showing the bottom of thecorner. Fig. 13 is a plan view, partly in section, of a pocket-cover.Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectionthrougharailorframe,showingthecountingdevice. Fig. 15 is a similar view of a modified form, and Fig. 16 is asection taken through the corner of the board at one of thepocket-openings.

A designates the body of the board, which is conveniently made up oflongitudinal strips (1, having a tongue-and-groove connection and gluedtogether. These strips are preferably of narrow construction, making acomposite body.

B designates a surrounding frame or rail, which, as shown, extends aboveand below the body or board. The extension of the frame or rail belowthe body may, however,

the board is to be used for the game of billiards. This cover is made toexactly fit in the opening 0 and is of a dimension to completely closethe opening and rest on the portion 0 of the opening. This cover isprovided with a groove cl along its straight edges, in which is placedbowed springs 61 the bowed portion of which projects normally beyond theplane of the edge of the cover and impinges against the rail When thecover is inserted in the pocketopening, holding the cover firmly inplace. Any desirable form of pocket, as at D may be employed, the samebeing attached in the pocket-opening in any convenient manner,preferably by havingits cushion-strip and turn the covering slightly,or, owing to the shape of the strip, it may be turned completely aroundor reversed, so as to presenta new Wearing-surface. When the covering Eis to be turned on the strip, so as to present a new surface,.it may bereadily done by removing the clamps e and again applying the'same. erelatively short the cushion-strips may be By forming the clamps forcedinto their grooves without the clamps interfering. The clamps occupy aposition posite directions from the extreme inner end of the verticalgroove.

G designates a metallic retaining bar or brace, which is preferablyformed of a strip of pressed steel bent back onto itself, its edges gbeing bent at right angles in opposite directions to form the horizontalportion of a T. The lower end of the brace is bulged or bent into acurved enlargement or bead g, while the main body of the brace betweenthe parts 9 and gare brought into intimate relation or contact. A braceof this formation possesses a large degree of strength against verticalfiexure. The upper portions of the brace are forced into and are closelyseated in the groove F and are held therein solely by frictionalcontact, thus avoiding the use of screws or nails. The length of thebrace is slightly less than the width of the body between the sideframes, there being a small space at opposite ends, so that the bracewill be carried, and constitutes a part of the body independent of theframe, so that the entire strength and rigidity of the brace will actand serve to resist any warping of the-body, but will allow shrinkingand swelling. The vertical width of the brace G is such as to cause itto extend below the face of the body and to thereby add materially tothe strength of the brace. It also forms a convenient handle or meansfor lifting and transporting the board.

In the drawings I have shown two of the braces above described; but itis to be understood that the number of braces will depend largely uponthe size of the board. In some instances one brace will be sufi'icientto prevent the warping of the body. In Fig. 6 I have shown aslightly-modified form of the brace, being similar to the form abovedescribed, except the omission of the rounded or curved lower edge. I,however, wish it expressly understood that other forms of braces may beemployed but inasmuch as it is necessary to have the braces as light aspossible without impairing their rigidity or strength the pressed-steelbent form has been found particularly desirable.

In the upperedge of the opposite side frames or rails B and convenientlyat the center there is formed a deep longitudinal groove H, in which isplaced a wire H, the same being secured in the groove at a pointconsiderably below the top thereof by having its ends inserted in theplugs h h. These plugs are forced into the pockets formed at the ends ofthe grooves and are there held either by friction or by glue, as may bedesired. Intermediate the plugs h and h is a central plug,

which is secured in position by a small staple or other convenientmeans, as shown in Fig. 14. On opposite sides of the center plug aretially 1S SUUWU wuuruiu uuU u wire are provided with pointed projections h which enter the rail.

The various details of construction above described may be modified andchanged without departing from the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a game-board, the combination with the body and surrounding frame,of a metallic brace having a portion entering the body, held therein andex tending transversely across the same, substantially as described.

2. In a game-board, the combination with the body having a groove in theunder face formed with lateral extensions, and a metallic brace having aportion fashioned to fit the groove and inserted in the groove,substanas described.

3. In a game-board, the combination with a body having grooves therein,of means for preventing the warping of the body, consisting of bentmetallic braces fashioned to fit and be retained in the grooves,substantially as described.

4. In a game-board, the combination with the body having substantially Tshaped grooves formed in its under face, of bent me tallic bracesfashioned at their upper edge to conform to the shape of the groove andinserted and held within the groove, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a body having a substantially T- shaped grooveformed therein, of a metallic brace inserted in the groove, formed ofbent metal having its upper edges bent outwardly, its lower or centralportion formed into a curved bead and lying below the body,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a body having a T-groove therein, of a metallicbrace inserted in the groove consisting of a strip of metal bent backonto itself, its edges being bent outwardly in opposite directions,substantially as described.

7. In a game-board, the combination with a body and surrounding frame,having a groove therein,of a thin metallic cushion-strip curved incross-section having its edge inserted in the groove, and a facing orcovering of textile material on the strip, substantially as described.

8. In a game-board, the combination with a body and surrounding frame,of a curved metallic cushion-strip secured to the board, and a fabriccover for the entire strip, substantially as described.

9. In a game-board, the combination with a body and surrounding frame,of a thin metallic cushion-strip, a fabric tubing surround- IIO

